Suspect Fails to Stop for Massachusetts State Police, Flees Vehicle, is Struck on Rt 495

At 6:05 p.m. tonight State Police-Leominster received a call from a motorist reporting that a sport utility vehicle was being operating erratically on Route 495 southbound in Marlboro. The caller reported that the SUV passed him at an estimated speed of 100 mph.

Moments later, an MSP Trooper on patrol spotted the erratic SUV, determined to be a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe. The Trooper attempted to stop the Tahoe but the male operator refused to stop and fled from the cruiser. A pursuit was authorized by MSP Troop C Headquarters, which assumed command and control.

A short time later the fleeing suspect lost control of the Tahoe and spun out to the left, into the center median on Route 495 southbound, south of Exit 21, in Hopkinton.

The male suspect — the vehicle’s sole occupant — bailed out of the Tahoe’s driver side door and fled on foot through the wooded median in the direction of the northbound lanes of 495. Preliminary investigation indicates the Trooper was not engaged in active foot pursuit of the suspect through the wooded median.

Moments later, at about 6:16 p.m., State Police received calls from motorists reporting that a male pedestrian — the fleeing suspect — had been struck by two vehicles on Route 495 northbound in Hopkinton, near Exit 21.

The Trooper reached the suspect and began medical aid. The suspect, a 27-year-old Billerica man, was transported by ambulance to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester with serious injuries.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the fleeing suspect was struck by a 2017 Subaru Impreza wagon being operated by a 56-year-old Medway man and then by the sideview mirror of a 2017 Ford Explorer being operated by a 67-year-old Westford man. The Impreza and the suspect’s Tahoe were towed from the scene.

Almost immediately a helicopter from the State Police Air Wing was on station over the scene, along with State Police patrols and a K9 team on the ground, to check the Tahoe and surrounding area to confirm that there were no other occupants or victims.

The State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and State Police Crime Scene Services Section also responded to assist and remain on scene conducting MSP Troop C personnel with the investigation. Two northbound lanes and one southbound lane were closed to facilitate the response and investigation. All lanes were reopened by approximately 9:20 p.m.